.jpg "2026 FTR SOF Symposium_Landing Page 16-9(1)")
Planning for 2027 starts with understanding what's driving the market today. The 2026 FTR State of Freight: Chemicals and Petroleum Symposium brings together FTR's economists and transportation experts to connect the dots between the economy, commodity demand, procurement, equipment availability, and freight capacity. Whether you're moving crude oil, petrochemicals, plastics, fertilizers, or related commodities, you'll leave with the forecasts and market intelligence needed to build more confident sourcing, budgeting, and transportation strategies for the year ahead.
In a focused, small-group setting, you'll hear directly from FTR's economists and transportation experts as they examine the freight trends shaping the chemicals and petroleum supply chain. Through forward-looking forecasts, commodity-specific analysis, and interactive discussion, you'll leave with practical insights to support transportation, procurement, and supply chain decisions.
Hosted at the Hyatt Regency Houston/Galleria, the symposium provides an ideal environment to step away from day-to-day operations, connect with peers, and gain a clearer understanding of the market forces influencing freight flows for chemicals, plastics, resins, petroleum products, and other industrial commodities.
Built to help you plan for 2027.
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Enjoy a continental breakfast while networking with industry peers, speakers, and fellow attendees.
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM
An overview of the day’s agenda and a brief introduction to the speakers and topics.
Speaker: Jonathan Starks, CEO
9:15 AM – 10:45 AM
The economy generates freight, but freight is just the downstream echo of demand for what you make and move. Before locking next year's plan, join FTR’s Jonathan Starks and Eric Starks for clear read on where industrial production, consumer spending, and global demand are heading. This session can shape your sourcing, inventory, and capacity decisions, not just your transportation budget.
Speakers:
Jonathan Starks, CEO
Eric Starks, Chairman
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Use this break to connect with industry peers, exchange ideas, and discuss the morning's insights.11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
One connected view of the market you procure against. Avery and Joseph expand on the demand outlook for crude oil, plastics, fertilizers, petrochemicals, and organics, then walk the chain that follows: how those volumes translate into capacity, where rates are heading, and whether the specialized capacity and equipment your product depends on — tank and covered hopper railcars, dry and liquid tank trailers — will actually be there when you need it. FTR’s analysis includes data pulled directly from the equipment producers in rail and truck which will help transportation buyers/sellers see the full picture of the supply and demand equilibrium and help build a more precise 2027 budget for your team.
Speakers:
Avery Vise, VP of Trucking
Joseph Towers, Senior Analyst, Rail
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Enjoy lunch while connecting with fellow attendees, speakers, and industry leaders to continue the conversations from the morning sessions.1:45 PM – 2:45 PM
Tariff policy has moved from background noise to a line item that reshapes sourcing, pricing, and where product flows. Joseph and Jonathan will have a candid conversation on how leaders are adapting to the impact export controls and commodity cost fluctuations are having on their businesses — and where the downstream risk lands for shippers and carriers alike.
Imports and exports have moved in unexpected ways through 2025, and every shift reroutes freight, reprices lanes, and changes what capacity you can count on. FTR quantifies the tariff impacts, maps how volumes are moving by commodity and region, and lays out what it may mean for your 2027 sourcing and distribution strategy — not just your carrier rates.
Speakers:
Jonathan Starks, CEO, FTR Intel
Eric Starks, Chairman, FTR Intel
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM
Use this break to connect with industry peers, exchange ideas, and discuss the morning's insights.3:15 PM – 4:00 PM
An open-format session where attendees can engage directly with FTR analysts, ask questions, and discuss key topics shaping the future of freight transportation.
Speakers:
Eric Starks, Chairman
Avery Vise, VP of Trucking
Joseph Towers, Senior Analyst, Rail
Moderator:
Jonathan Starks, CEO
4:00 PM - 4:15 PM
A brief recap of the day’s key takeaways, and a look ahead at what’s next from FTR.
Speaker: Jonathan Starks, CEO
Continental Breakfast
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Enjoy a continental breakfast while networking with industry peers, speakers, and fellow attendees.
Welcome and Introductions
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM
An overview of the day’s agenda and a brief introduction to the speakers and topics.
Speaker: Jonathan Starks, CEO
Demand Signals in the US Economy: 2027 Chemical & Petroleum Market Outlooks
9:15 AM – 10:45 AM
The economy generates freight, but freight is just the downstream echo of demand for what you make and move. Before locking next year's plan, join FTR’s Jonathan Starks and Eric Starks for clear read on where industrial production, consumer spending, and global demand are heading. This session can shape your sourcing, inventory, and capacity decisions, not just your transportation budget.
Speakers:
Jonathan Starks, CEO
Eric Starks, Chairman
Networking Break
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Use this break to connect with industry peers, exchange ideas, and discuss the morning's insights.
2027 Procurement Outlook
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
One connected view of the market you procure against. Avery and Joseph expand on the demand outlook for crude oil, plastics, fertilizers, petrochemicals, and organics, then walk the chain that follows: how those volumes translate into capacity, where rates are heading, and whether the specialized capacity and equipment your product depends on — tank and covered hopper railcars, dry and liquid tank trailers — will actually be there when you need it. FTR’s analysis includes data pulled directly from the equipment producers in rail and truck which will help transportation buyers/sellers see the full picture of the supply and demand equilibrium and help build a more precise 2027 budget for your team.
Speakers:
Avery Vise, VP of Trucking
Joseph Towers, Senior Analyst, Rail
Lunch and Networking
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Enjoy lunch while connecting with fellow attendees, speakers, and industry leaders to continue the conversations from the morning sessions.
Tariffs, Trade Flows, and the Supply Chains Caught in Between
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM
Tariff policy has moved from background noise to a line item that reshapes sourcing, pricing, and where product flows. Joseph and Jonathan will have a candid conversation on how leaders are adapting to the impact export controls and commodity cost fluctuations are having on their businesses — and where the downstream risk lands for shippers and carriers alike.
Imports and exports have moved in unexpected ways through 2025, and every shift reroutes freight, reprices lanes, and changes what capacity you can count on. FTR quantifies the tariff impacts, maps how volumes are moving by commodity and region, and lays out what it may mean for your 2027 sourcing and distribution strategy — not just your carrier rates.
Speakers:
Jonathan Starks, CEO, FTR Intel
Eric Starks, Chairman, FTR Intel
Networking Break
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM
Use this break to connect with industry peers, exchange ideas, and discuss the morning's insights.
Pressure Test Your 2027 Assumptions with FTR's Analysts
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM
An open-format session where attendees can engage directly with FTR analysts, ask questions, and discuss key topics shaping the future of freight transportation.
Speakers:
Eric Starks, Chairman
Avery Vise, VP of Trucking
Joseph Towers, Senior Analyst, Rail
Moderator:
Jonathan Starks, CEO
Closing Remarks
4:00 PM - 4:15 PM
A brief recap of the day’s key takeaways, and a look ahead at what’s next from FTR.
Speaker: Jonathan Starks, CEO
Make It a Two-Day Experience!
Make the most of your trip by joining us for the RFC & FTR Chemical Cars & Capital Forum, a one-day event focused on the trends shaping the chemical railcar market. Through expert presentations and panel discussions, you'll gain insights into fleet utilization, equipment demand, capital markets, investment trends, and the factors influencing railcar leasing and financing decisions.
Register for both events and save $100. When you register for the symposium, you'll have the option to add the Chemical Cars & Capital Forum for a discounted combined rate.
.jpg?width=500&height=500&name=2026%20RFC%20FTR%20Forum_Generic%201-1(1).jpg)
Enjoy Your Stay!
Hyatt Regency Houston/Galleria
Enjoy a comfortable stay at the Hyatt Regency Houston/Galleria, conveniently located in Houston's vibrant Uptown district near premier shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Click Here to access our group rate of $194/night.
Our group rate expires on October 23, 2026.
Please fill out the form to reserve your spot for the 2025 FTR State of Freight: Chemicals & Petroleum Symposium on November 4th in Houston, Texas!
Once the registration form is submitted, we will send a confirmation email with hotel room block information.
Please click here to view the FTR Symposium Series Terms & Conditions
Register Now!
©2026 FTR Transportation Intelligence. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy